Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed, on April 7, 2026, Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba and appointed Joseph Ngere Paciko as her replacement in South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA). Kumba, who had held the role since August 2021, was removed following a no-confidence vote by the ruling SPLM Parliamentary caucus, which cited allegations of poor management and corruption. She has not been reassigned.
In a related move, Second Deputy Speaker Parmena Awerial Aluong was also dismissed, with Abuk Payiti Ayik appointed as deputy speaker for finance and administration. Both appointments are expected to be endorsed during the same day’s parliamentary sitting. The leadership shake-up aligns with broader SPLM efforts to restructure parliamentary committees.
The TNLA, established under the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, comprises 550 members, with the SPLM holding the majority. The agreement stipulates that the speaker position remains allocated to the SPLM and must be filled by a representative from the Equatoria region.
